Service Leader: Rev Dave Clements

Worship Associates: Richard J. Senghas

Music: Gage & Crystal, & Roger Corman

Share the Basket: Saturday Breakfast with our Neighbors

Service Leader: Rev. Dave Clements

Worship Associate: Linda Lampson

Music: Robin Rogers & Paul Gilger

Share the Basket: Becoming Independent

This Sunday the children and youth of UUCSR are putting on their annual holiday pageant! Based on The Latke Who Couldn't Stop Screaming by Lemony Snicket, this story explores the many holidays of winter through the eyes of the titular screaming latke. Join us as we learn all about the history and traditions of Christmas, Hanukkah, and Solstice with loads of laughs and music along the way.

Service Leaders: Rev. Dave Clements & DRE Era Capone

Worship Associate: Mark Sowers

Music: Sally Jones & Roger Corman

Share the Basket: Saturday Breakfast with Our Neighbors

Service Leaders: Rev. Dave Clements

Worship Associate: Bev, Meike, Cathie, Noah

Music: Gage Purdy with the Choir & Roger Corman

Share the Basket: Minister's Discretionary Fund

Service Leader: Rev. Bev Spears

Worship Associate: Susan Thollaug

Music: Roger Corman (pre-recorded)

Share the Basket: Saturday Breakfast

Rev. Dave Clements

In this last month Rev. Dave's sermons have revolved around the concept of Change, and I find that I have been reflecting on this, a lot. The holiday season brings up a lot for me, and talking to many of you, there is so much joy and gratitude for family, for community, for nature and all that sustains us. This fall in Sonoma County has been really beautiful! However, the winter holidays are also fraught with emotion and anxiety for me- loss of family members and old family traditions, family members who have struggled and with whom I’ve struggled, and expectations, expectations, expectations. I think we all feel the pull of consumerism and so many of us have a least a little disfunction in our families, and that disfunction has a tendency to flair up this time of year. We all long to have more control over our lives, and yet, that seems elusive and is perhaps a fool’s mission. So, I know that I have to roll with the punches and live in the present moment as much as possible. We've been told that might be one of the keys to a satisfying life, but it is not always an easy practice.

That said, this congregation has sustained me in difficult times. I am so lucky to be in a Women’s group that accepts me thas I am, allows me to be my authentic self, and supports me when the going gets tough. I am also in the Diversity Project group, another community within our larger congregational community, that is there for me. The Diversity Project has a mission and a vision and we strive to work towards overcoming the effects of marginalization and become a truly welcoming congregation for everyone who seeks a spiritual community such as ours. It is within these groups, these communities, that we give back to our larger community. I would argue that we get so much more than we give.

The point is- Thank you! Thank you for being my community.

Last month, we had a short, informative “Town Meeting”, which was very different from Town meetings we’ve had in the past. We are also getting ready to have a fundraising event that is very different from fundraisers we had in the past. In naming things (Town Hall, Cake Auction, etc), we expect things to be the same as they were in the past. We are not the same people we were 6 years ago, or 10 years ago, or 25 years ago. We are experimenting with change, finding out what works and what needs massaging. As the world has changed significantly in the last few years, so will we. It is inevitable. It can be anxiety producing, but there is so much potential to be an even stronger, more sustaining, more sustainable church that is here for us and for generations to come. We have a lot of work to do! Let's have us some fun while we do the work!

The Board, Committees, Volunteers, and Staff are working hard for this congregation. You'll find out more at our Congregational Meeting on January 29th. Mark your calendars. We'll try to inject some fun in that meeting, too!

“… true giving is not an economic exchange; it is a generative act. It does not subtract from what we have; it multiples the effect we can have in the world."

-Simple Truths, Kent Nerburn

Financial results through October 2022 - Revenue: We are behind about $11k in pledge revenue through 4 months. Total revenue from operations is behind almost $15k. Expenses: Total expenses are also under budget. Net Income: While Glaser Center net income is on budget, overall there is a net loss of about $11k through the first 4 months of the year.

Glaser Center: Our new Rental Coordinator Robin Factor has hit the ground running and while we have lots of challenges ahead such as a very changed rental landscape and a website in desperate need of updating, we are optimistic that there is opportunity ahead for us to increase revenue from rentals to pre-pandemic levels within a few years.

Year-End Giving – A friendly reminder to make your last-minute donations in December in order to deduct them on your 2022 income tax return.

What does the future hold for UUCSR, financially? – The Board and Finance Team have been meeting together to discuss and plan for the future, to realistically estimate what income we can expect as we emerge from the pandemic and how we will address shortfalls that appear to be inevitable based on our current expense level. The Finance Team has provided the Board with an analysis of the past 10 years of our financial results that has crystallized and clarified many of the financial challenges we face today and tomorrow. We (the Finance Team and the Board) are currently putting together financial projections for the future and revising some budgeting techniques to help us focus on our mission as together we create a balanced budget. Choices will be made that reflect our mission and values. This planning is necessary for us in both the short-term and long-term in order to get away from the deficit spending that has plagued us for much of the past 10 years. You will be hearing more in the coming months and you can always ask me or any member of the Finance Team (Jan Hess, Jane DeYoung, Kirsten Olney, Rose St John and Michael Randolph) if you want to discuss any UUCSR finance questions further.

Linda Balabanian, Treasurer

Click HERE for the latest information!

Hello all,

The holidays are officially upon us, and the children of RE will be celebrating with their annual holiday pageant! This year, they'll be putting on an adaptation of The Latke Who Couldn't Stop Screaming by Lemony Snicket. After preparing for, rehearsing, and putting on the pageant, they'll get a well-deserved break before their return to RE on January 8th.

If you are able to volunteer in the production of the pageant, be it costuming, prop-making, or backstage assistance, we would love your help! Contact Era at dre@uusantarosa.org to get involved!

This Sunday, kids who have roles in the pageant will be rehearsing their lines and practicing their delivery. Kids who don't have a speaking role will be working on props, set pieces, and artwork that will be featured in the pageant itself! Additionally, we will be joined by Mac Freeman to practice some of the songs that will be performed in the pageant.

This Sunday, kids who have roles in the pageant will be rehearsing their lines and practicing their delivery. Kids who don't have a speaking role will be working on props, set pieces, and artwork that will be featured in the pageant itself! Additionally, we will be joined by Mac Freeman to practice some of the songs that will be performed in the pageant.

This Sunday the children and youth of UUCSR are putting on their annual holiday pageant! Based on The Latke Who Couldn't Stop Screaming by Lemony Snicket, this story explores the many holidays of winter through the eyes of the titular screaming latke. Join us as we learn all about the history and traditions of Christmas, Hanukkah, and Solstice with loads of laughs and music along the way.

If you attend services, you are aware that there is a Lay Chaplain each Sunday who reads the entries in the Milestones book and is available after the service if someone needs a listening ear.

Additionally, our ministry involves assisting our minister by being in contact with people who are ill, unable to come to church or who have experienced a recent loss. We meet twice monthly to identify the needs in the congregation. We are also available to connect with any congregant who requests it. Please contact one of us directly or all of us at LayChaplains@uusantarosa.org if you or someone you know needs support.

Our Lay Chaplains are:

Rob Carlisle

Judy Ervice

Bruce Hope

Barb Kezur

Lucia Milburn

Gayle Shirley

Gretchen Vap

We can use this time to withdraw and illuminate the dark parts of ourselves, to shed a new light on anything holding us back, any distractions stopping us from being who we want to be. Leave them behind. Letting go of things we no longer need, or that no longer bring us joy is deeply beneficial to our spirit.

Reconnecting with nature, watching the changing seasons, feeling the cycles of life, and honoring the festivities of our ancestors. We are drawn to these things because we know instinctively, intuitively, nature brings us closer to our source. It also connects us to our ancient ancestors whose very survival depended on their connection to the earth and observations of the seasons.

On Wednesday December 21st, you are invited to the 2022 Winter Solstice Service here at UUCSR. Come celebrate the mystery and the beauty of the darkest time…. and the magic of the light. 

-Loretta

Article II provides for a period of thoughtful study of our principles and much more. Input from the broader UU community is invited. UUA offers specified zoom meetings for such input. You can learn more by googling UUA and looking for the Article II Study Commission

I was drawn to work of the 8th Principle Task Force because of my longstanding commitment to issues of social justice, diversity, antiracism. This experience includes my journey as an aspiring ally to people of color.

I thank my mother for an early start to my social justice journey. At a young age, she brought me every Saturday to United Farm Workers (UFW) pickets at the Kroger store in northwest Detroit. My amazing mother, Nancy Keefe, taught me an early lesson in allyship with farmworkers grape boycott. I thought I was just passing out “Don’t Buy Grapes” flyers, but the experience served as learning opportunity, and I grew up with more than the average understanding of working for safe and just working conditions.

Fast forward to my 20’s, I launched my social work career as a young non-profit administrator with the Michigan Coalition to End Domestic and Sexual Violence. In my first year, I had a critical conversation with the Women of Color Task Force leadership. They educated me on how the Coalition was Racist. I had not seen the racism I was hearing about. Racism was invisible to me. It was obvious after that conversation, I needed to “do my own work.”

Soon after, I found a life changing opportunity. I completed two cohorts of the Allies for Change program - Doing Our Own Work – a deep exploration into exploring white privilege for white women. This experience was transformational and put me on a path of further individual study and conversation on anti-oppression and anti-racism.

I feel strongly that allies have a critical role in the path to racial justice. The voices of allies are needed now more than ever. We have a responsibility to see and name racial injustice when we witness it and to work in our spheres of influence to bring change.

With all that is unfolding in the world regarding racial justice, I decided that it was time to step up at UUCSR. Using my passion for equity I had to offer my skills and experience to the work of adopting the 8th principle.

In the important work that comes after the 8th Principle vote, where our community will be working hard side by side, I am hoping to help develop some UUCSR opportunities for anti-racist community building. This will include conversations on allyship and how we recognize and interrupt racism.

General Assembly (GA) is the annual national gathering of Unitarian Universalists, where we conduct business of the Association, explore the theological underpinnings of our faith, and lean fully into our mission and principles. GA 2023 will be held in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, June 21–25, 2023. UUCSR is allotted five or six voting delegate positions; delegates may participate in the work of the Association either in-person or online via Zoom. Check out lots of info about GA at https://www.uua.org/ga, and email Nominating Committee chair Ben Ford at bjford64@gmail.com if you are interested in being a delegate to represent us at GA!

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At the January congregational meeting, we will elect Board of Trustees and Endowment Committee members. The Nominating Committee is preparing nominations that will include:

One or two additional nominations are still in process. Brief bios of all nominees will be included in the packet of information for the congregational meeting.

Jeanie Bates jeaniebmft@gmail.com 707-861-9491

Jonathan Choe jonathanchoe@yahoo.com 707-322-8544

Susan Bartholome bartlev@sonic.net  707-887-9810

Alan Bell  alanlinda43@yahoo.com   707-546-6988

Lucia Milburn lamilburn01@gmail.com  707-829-0290

Cathie Wiese cathie@sonic.net   707-486-3774

Kitty Wells kittywellslmft@gmail.com  707-433-3351

After the roof completion, Jerry Rose and a team of Ops members with help from RE parent Patrick Bailey, got right onto the next important step of making our playground safer.

We are very grateful to everyone who pitched in to make our yard a safer place for the kids.

There are a few more steps before completion so feel free to reach out if you would like to paint and/or load woodchips into the yard.

Click HERE to see more of the process

Community Conversations Gathering December 11^th.

1.   How can we do better at realizing the Focus List isn’t an appropriate venue for venting frustrations, attacking or blaming

2.    In response to questions submitted by several people, what would help us to continue to heal from the wounds, trauma and loss we carry from the past 5 years: fires, floods, pandemic, a minister leaving, an interim minister leaving and all of our individual hurts?

3.   What more can we do to appreciate all the volunteers at UUCSR who contribute in ways that may not even be visible or whose jobs have been eliminated, sometimes without much appreciation expressed?

In this month's newsletter:

In this month's newsletter:

NBOP's Holiday Party: Saturday December 17th 2-5pm. Pozole & Poder!

UUCSR is a member organization of NBOP. You can be a part of putting our UUCSR mission and values to work in our local communities thru participation in NBOP activities. For more info and contact emails:

Deep Democracy Task Force: Kimi Barbosa kbarbosa@gmail.com

Climate Justice Task Force: Manny Morales mmorales@northbayop.org

Immigrant Defense Task Force: Rocio Torres rtorres@northbayop.org

Police Accountability Task Force Force: Kim Barbosa kbarosa@gmail.com

Tenant Rights/Housing Justice: Chad Bolla cbolla@northbayop.org

707-291-2666

UUCSR Events:

Glaser Center Events: